This blog is about life on board our narrowboat Sanity Again, cruising the inland waterways of the UK (mainly in the spring, summer and autumn) and living in a marina in the winter. It's the way I choose to write it; if you don't like it, there are many other boating blogs.

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Carrying on the good work

We had a very pleasant session at the Boar's Head last night; it felt like the start of the Owners' Weekend already. Although I had a seriously broken night, it's still been a good day. From the point of view of the owners' tasks, we've got both marquees up despite the on and off rain this afternoon. It was accompanied by much good humoured discussion of the best way to do it – I do think we're getting better and better at the job as the years go by. Or at least at talking about it... ;)

On Sanity Again, Johnny has continued to prep the roof and to work on the bow deck. Both are progressing well and the first job tomorrow will be to do a boat shuffle. Cala needs to be the other way round to have another window resealed and Sanity Again will be reversed into the paint shed so that all her roof is under cover ready to be undercoated.

In addition, her immersion heater has been changed. The old one had no continuity between the positive and negative side at all, suggesting that the main problem had been a pinhole through the insulation of the element. I just need to keep an eye on the new one to make sure that heating the calorifier to full temperature doesn't start the seal leaking between the heater and the tank. It's unlikely, but it's good to be sure.

I've also had a discussion with Peter about the positioning of the new WiFi aerial. I think we've found the best solution, but it's something to come back to tomorrow.

New owners John and Pat have turned up on the very latest Braidbar, Drum Solo II. Although pretty well all the boats here are in the wrong place, we've now got enough spaces on the Deeps occupied, always a reassurance. We'll have a quiet night tonight, recharging the personal batteries ready for the demands of the next few days.

Our home

Contributors

Our eBooks

We've now written four e-books. We have been selling them via Amazon, but we've taken the decision to avoid benefitting from Amazon's tax avoidance strategies. Instead, if you would like a copy of any of these, please email me using the link below, saying which ereader you use. I'll send you a copy in return for a donation to a waterways or cancer charity of your choice.

Building Sanity Again is an account of just that, based on the blog I did whilst it was all going on and with an evaluative chapter added.

A Boater's Commonplace Book is Sheila's compilation of answers to the questions we've been asked during our time as liveaboard boaters such as "Is it cold in the winter?" and "How far have you been?"

Tales from the Towpath is another of Sheila's compilations, this time of all the funny things that have happened to us on the waterways over the last 35 years plus, together with some stories we've only heard about.

Practically Cooking on Board is my cookbook, using ingredients and equipment reasonably readily available to the boater. No sous vide or liquid nitrogen here!

Email link:

Cruising plan: Spring and Summer 2017

After a winter in the marina, we plan to set off again at the beginning of April, heading for Stourport, the Severn and then the Droitwich. Then we'll make our way back via Tardebigge, Lapworth and Hatton to arrive at Crick in good time for the Show.

After that, we may well head back north to the Llangollen, aiming to arrive at Poynton in late August for the Owners' Weekend and Open Day.